Govt declares Zambia ready to engage EU on mutual trade

Government has declared that Zambia is ready to engage with the European Union (EU) on outstanding issues under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to ensure mutually beneficial trade arrangements.

Charge d’ Affaires at the Zambia Embassy in Belgium, Henry Ngilazi has urged the European Union to allow beneficial dialogue on the EPAs in order to make them truly partnership agreements.

Mr. Ngilazi made the remarks during the 16th meeting of the African Caribbean Pacific and European Union (ACP-EU) Ministerial Trade Joint Committee where he represented Commerce and Trade Minister Christopher Yaluma in Brussels.

Mr. Ngilazi says it is worrying that the outstanding issues on which negotiations were suspended by the EU relate to the development component of the EPAs.

He has wondered how the partnership agreements would serve as instruments of development in their current form.

Mr. Ngilazi further urged the European Union to consider reopening the negotiations on EPAs to enable the resolution of outstanding issues conclusively.

Mr. Ngilazi also emphasized the importance of engaging all eleven Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) states in the process of widening and deepening the ESA-EPA agreement as they were key in the initial negotiations of its content.

The EPAs are trade and development agreements negotiated between EU and ACP countries aimed at promoting trade and investment, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and poverty reduction.

And Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland has reaffirmed Commonwealth’s support of Zambia’s trade and development agenda saying her organization stands ready to assist Zambia and all ACP member states to achieve their trade aspirations.

She says the Commonwealth is determined to help deliver the benefits of integration and partnership for inclusive economic growth and sustainable development to leverage south to south engagement as well as to boost investment linkages through connectivity agenda.

This is contained in a statement made available to QTV news by First Secretary Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium Phyllis Chilekwa.